We're about:

We connect language learners with native speakers of Japanese or English. Practice speaking, find out about cultures, styles, history, current events, and meet new friends!

People who want to speak (or hear) Japanese or English can join. It is open to all ages, and all levels of skill. Generally speaking, all people are welcome to join this club, however it is expected that everyone abide by the following basic guidelines:

Individuals must respect one another.

Let's keep a positive attitude about things!

Let's have a really great time!

We meet in a casual environment such as a restaurant, and people just form natural conversations or practice groups. And if you are looking for a language exchange partner, you are likely to find one here. But we are not a class - please don't show up and expect one. If you have specific questions, you can get answers here.

Please fill your application/profile as much as possible. On the language question, for example, you could say "English - Native, Japanese - Beginner" or vice versa. We will decline blank applications.

We are not a dating club. Unfortunately, there have been a number of cases where male members have been making passes at female members, asking for dates, emailing women and asking to meet up, asking women for their phone numbers or pestering them to be added to their Facebook friends. In the past we have had female members who stopped coming to meetups because they were made uncomfortable by some of our members' behavior. We will not tolerate this type of behavior. You should assume that our members are there to discuss culture and ask and answer questions about language and are not looking for dates, and should not initiate any request for dates without very clear signals that these requests are welcome. If a woman offers you to make you her Facebook friend, that is fine to accept, but be very cautious about asking for hers. Also, do not message through Meetup looking for dates under any circumstances. If you make other members uncomfortable you will either be banned immediately or given a warning depending on the seriousness. If you get a warning and if there are any further concerns with respect to your behavior after the warning, you will be banned at that point. We have done this before and we will not hesitate to do so in future.

To our female members: please do not hesitate to message or call me (my number is generally listed on the Saturday meetup) if anyone bothers you, emails you or otherwise pesters you or makes you uncomfortable. This type of activity happens when no one talks about it. I am more than happy to talk to any members about any issues, and to warn or ban them if appropriate. But I can only do that if I either see it personally (which rarely happens) or if someone tells me about it.

Dues are currently suspended. At some point I may start asking for people to pay $1 per meetup of $5 for the year, but at the moment I am not bothering. Member dues are mainly used for the Meetup website cost which is $180 per year.